Health Library
Stay on top of your health and access your source of healthcare updates, wellness tips, and insightful information that will empower you to feel better.
Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland is sometimes called the master gland of the endocrine system. This is because it controls the functions of many of the other endocrine glands. The pituitary gland is small. It is about the size of a pea. It is located at the base of the brain. The gland is attached to the part of the brain called the hypothalamus by nerve fibers and blood vessels. The pituitary gland itself has 2 lobes:
Anterior lobe
Posterior lobe
Functions of the pituitary gland
Each lobe of the pituitary gland makes certain hormones.
Anterior lobe
GH (growth hormone). This influences growth during childhood. And it helps keep muscles and bones healthy in adults.
Prolactin. This stimulates milk production in the female breast. It's role in men is uncertain.
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone). This regulates the adrenal glands.
TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). This regulates the thyroid gland.
FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone). This regulates the ovaries and testes.
LH (luteinizing hormone). This regulates the ovaries or testes.
Posterior lobe
Antidiuretic hormone . This is actually made in the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland. It controls water and sodium balance in the body.
Oxytocin. This helps the uterus to contract during labor and childbirth and stimulates the release of milk during breastfeeding. Oxytocin also may play a role in bonding and trust, especially between parents and children.
Online Sources
Meet our Doctors
See More
Related Services
10% KOH
10% KOH SMEAR
17-OH PROGESTERONE
Topics
- Adolescent Medicine
- Alcohol and Drugs
- Allergy
- Asthma
- Bariatrics
- Bone Cancer
- Brain Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Health
- Burns
- Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Colorectal Cancer
- Colorectal Conditions
- Complementary Medicine
- Craniofacial
- Dermatology
- Diabetes
- Emergency Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Environmental Medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Genetics
- Geriatrics
- GI Cancer
- Glossary
- Gyn Oncology
- Gynecology
- Hand Surgery
- Hematology
- Hepatology
- Home Health
- Hospice
- Immunology
- Infectious Disease
- Interventional Cardiology
- Journey Stage
- Lab Tests
- Lactation
- Lung Cancer
- Men's Health
- Mental Health
- Navigating Healthcare
- Neonatology
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Nuclear Medicine
- Nutrition
- Obstetrics
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Oral Health
- Orthopaedics
- Otolaryngology
- Pain Management
- Pathology
- Pediatrics
- Perinatology
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Plastic Surgery
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Health
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
- Pulmonary
- Radiology
- Rehabilitation
- Reproductive Medicine
- Rheumatology
- Safety
- Skin Cancer
- Sleep Disorders
- Spine
- Sports Medicine
- Stroke
- Surgery
- Terminal Illness
- Therapeutic Radiology
- Transplantation
- Travel Medicine
- Urologic Cancer
- Urology
- Vascular
- Wellness
- Women's Health
- Wound Care